Piper Rubio
stars in film
Five Nights
at
Freddy’s 2
Photography Allegra Messina
Creative Director Deborah Ferguson
Words by Deborah Ferguson
At an age when most young performers are still discovering their footing, Piper Rubio is already shaping a career defined by intention, curiosity, and remarkable self-possession. Best known for her standout role as Abby in the Five Nights at Freddy’s film franchise, Piper approaches her work with an intelligence and emotional clarity that sets her apart far beyond her years. Grounded, creatively driven, and quietly stylish, she brings both integrity and focus to every role — building a thoughtful foundation for what promises to be a lasting and evolving career. In this conversation, Piper reflects on growing up on set, developing Abby’s emotional world, and the creative passions that continue to fuel her both on and off screen.
You started acting very young, can you share the moment you first knew performing was something you loved? What inspired you to chase this dream, and how did those early experiences lead you to landing the role of Abby in Five Nights at Freddy’s?
So, I first started doing improv classes when I was four years old, and that’s when I fell in love with acting. I officially became an actor around five or six years old. Then one day, I got the audition for Five Nights at Freddy’s, and I was like, “Hey Mom, this has the same name as the horror game, do you think they’re related?” And she said, “No, it’s probably just a coincidence.” It wasn’t. I flipped the page to see Freddy Fazbear.
When you prepare for a role, especially one as emotional and mysterious as Abby, how do you get into your character? Do you build backstory, rehearse in special ways, or imagine scenes beyond the script to help her come to life?
I definitely like building out her character, ’cause I have a bit more room to be malleable with her because she’s not a pre-existing character in Five Nights at Freddy’s. It’s just interesting, because me and Abby are similar in a lot of ways, so it doesn’t take much for me to get in the mindset of her.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is full of intense and spooky moments. How do you stay brave and focused during the scary scenes? Do you have any techniques for switching from “Piper” to “Abby” and then back again once the cameras stop rolling?
So, for a lot of the scary scenes, I draw from real life. Switching from Piper to Abby is kinda like a Miley/Hannah Montana thing for me, I guess, because she’s a part of me.
Every set has that one person who makes the long days easier. Who, behind the scenes on Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, supported you the most, whether by helping you stay calm, focused, or making you laugh between takes?
Well, almost everyone on set did this, but the person who did this the most was definitely Josh (Hutcherson).
What was it like working with Josh Hutcherson again in this new film? Did he ever share any big-brother advice with you, or give you tips that helped you grow as an actress?
Yeah, Josh was always just handing me random wisdom at completely random moments. I wouldn’t even realize it until weeks later that he had bestowed wisdom upon me. He also taught me how to make paper airplanes in the first movie, which is really cool. I loved reuniting with him. I, like, full-on ran and charged at him and hugged him.
You worked with an incredible cast on this movie, is there a moment with another actor that really stands out to you, whether it was funny, emotional, or something you learned from watching them work?
A moment that really stuck out to me was working with Freddy Carter. Working with Freddy was incredible, just watching him bring Michael Afton to life right in front of my eyes was one of the craziest things I think I’ve ever witnessed. It genuinely gave me chills watching that scene in real time.
Did the director, Emma Tammi, give you a piece of advice that really stayed with you? Something you feel made you stronger or more confident in playing Abby the second time around?
There’s not necessarily a piece of advice I can pinpoint, but something that will always stick with me is just the way she handles things on set. Emma will go out of her way to make the cast feel more comfortable or confident in their work. Emma has definitely helped me grow as an actor. She has this inviting energy that she carries throughout that just makes working on set feel like home. Overall, working with Emma is wonderful.
When you’re not acting or on set, what do you love doing for fun? Are there any hobbies you’re really into right now?
So, I’ve always loved to draw, and I’ve recently been getting really into animation as well. I really enjoy character creation and world-building.
You have great personal style and such a fun sense of fashion, what inspires you when you’re choosing outfits or experimenting with your look off set?
Why, thank you! A lot of my inspiration comes from the ’70s to the early 2000s. My mom and I do a lot of collaborative stuff when picking out outfits; we’re always a team, and she’s who got me into fashion. I’m so glad she did.
And just for fun: if you could hang out with one animatronic for an entire day, which one would you pick? And what would you two do together?
I’m picking Chica, and we would travel the whole world in one day with Chica’s magic rainbow, and it would be awesome. Cupcake would be there too, of course!
Photography
Creative Director & Fashion Editor
Makeup
Nicole Maguire @ Art Department Agency
Hair
Web Layout
Thank you